Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-08


eyes he found the attic in total darkness, for
the moon had gone down. A his eyes BE-
came more accustomed to the darkness, he
could family discern right before him .
figure half through an opening In the door.
"Sh-hits me. mister" came In . faint
whisper. "Thay'uns are down thar, an ye
must gitl Kun down here, right smart, n
and the girl reached out and grasped his hand
with . frantic clutch.
Craddock comprehended the situation at
once, and noiselessly felt his way to the OPEN
ing. where Nan had removed q loose board
directly over her own bedroom. To follow
her through the opening into the room below
was his next move, and then As he stood
there, with the girl by his side, he heard her
short, quick breath, and realized that she was
facing great danger In thus striving to pre-
vent further wrong under that family roof.
And he heard more than the girls painting
for breath. Voices Of men in low, earnest
talk came through the thin partition, and he
knew that just On the other side were those
who sought his life. Then the girl pushed
him towards the open door, saying:
aver hoss are saddled, mister, down by the
cowpen. Be powerful kesrful till 70 gifts out
o hearin', then git."
But just at this moment q footstep N.
heard in the attic overhead, followed almost
Immediately by old Rankin's shout:
"He's clard out, boysl Hes clean goneI"
All was confusion At once There was a
rush and trampling Of feet, oaths and curses
loud and deep, a. the gang hurried out and
surrounded the house. A moment Later the
door Of the bedroom was flung open, letting
In q food Of light from the fireplace, and out
lined against 1t was Rankin's towering form
convulsed now with rage and baffled hate
What he saw was calculated to excite hin,
still more. In the center Of tho little room
stond Craddock firmly grasping his revolver.
By bis side, still clutching his hand, was Nan
her face ashen white, but standing erect. A. |,
the new purpose which filled her soul had
made her brave enough to face the furies a,
hell.
"Don't shoot, pawi don't W kill him, Oh
paw, amt 70 had enuf of robbin' and KILN
folksess Don't 70 want 70 live honest like.
Oh. please do, paw"
Tho appeal died out in . vail Of unuttsr
able misery a. the girl saw that the brutal
heart Of the father was untouched.
"What fer 70 gone ter preachin', 70 nivslin
brati Git out o. that till az himi"
But the girl made no move to Leave, Her
hand trembled slightly, and her eyes were
hlled With dread, but she remained immov
abba
Then with . hoarse cry Of rage Rankin
leveled his revolver at Craddock and fired,
but the latter was equally quick. and fired al.
most at the same instant. Quicker than
either, however. was the girl, who threw her.
self between her father and his intended vic
tim. knocking up Craddock's revolver with a
blow of her hand, and sending his ball harm.
less into the ceiling. while she received the
shot meant for Craddock in her own side.
and sank to the floor with the life blood
staining her dress.
The revolver dropped from Rankin's hand.
and be stood for moment paralyzed. Then.
as the full import Of what be had done
dawned on his mind, he turned, and with a
great cry Of grief, remorse and horror. he
sped out into the darkness and never was seen
again.
The mother, broken hearted and broken
spirited by long years Of sorrow, and the
stranger. Craddock, gently laid the half un-
conscious girl ON her bed and ministered to
her wants as best they could. Craddock's
knowledge OF surgery told him that her
wound was fatal. and all they could do was
to smooth the way for her Just as the morn
ing sun was peering through the pines she
aroused and feebly whispered:
paw, thar won't be no more Robin, will
thar' I'm glad of this ends hit. Paw, don't
feel-bad. for-give"--
The wind sighed and moaned in the pines,
but the sun sent a slanting ray into the little
room and it rested on . wan, pale face on
which was a heavenly smile.
Old Rankin's gal was dead
A. TIFFANY NORTON.